Who's New at the Zoo?

Janette Oke's Animal Friends #12

by Janette Oke

Barnaby is the youngest gorilla in his family and the first born in Roxbury Zoo, making him a hit with zoo visitors. The sign outside his den announces that Barnaby is "Number One!" Between adventures with his brother and special attention from just about everyone, Barnaby thinks life is perfect. But when another baby gorilla arrives, Barnaby's sign is replaced with one for her. On top of that, she seems to steal his spotlight. What will make Barnaby special when he's no longer what draws the crowds?

Genres: Childrens, Fiction

72 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Janette Oke is a Canadian author known for her inspirational fiction, often set in a pioneer era and focused on female protagonists. Her debut novel, Love Comes Softly (1979), became the foundation for a successful series, followed by over 75 other novels. The first book in her Canadian West series, When Calls the Heart (1983), inspired the popular television series of the same name.
Born in Champion, Alberta, to farmers Fred and Amy (née Ruggles) Steeves during the Great Depression, Oke went on to graduate from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of the college. The couple has four children, including a daughter who has collaborated with Janette on several books.
A committed Evangelical Christian, Oke has authored numerous works exploring themes of faith. She has received various accolades for her contributions to Christian fiction, including the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award.

Reviews

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! And it would be fabulous for a child who was about to have a new brother or sister! It is a great story of gorillas in a zoo, and welcoming new ones. Expressing some of the emotional issues of young children through changes in their lives, this is a great little story.